Funeral Processions. Time to Outlaw Them.

I really think we need to just outlaw funeral processions unless escorted by police. Yeah, I get a family is grieving, but these things are dangerous. Especially because so many of them are not done with police escorts. Trust me, the dead isn't going to care...

I've literally seen like four or five accidents because of funeral processions where the cars are blowing red lights at busy intersections and on coming traffic is unaware resulting in some pretty gnarly accidents. Drivers are simply not attentive enough and too impatient.

Anyway, just a rant as I saw a near accident today because of a funeral procession running a light.

a reply to: Edumakated

a reply to: Edumakated

Well, take it to your city council.

Some towns are better at it than others. But, I see no reason it can't be handled at the local level.

a reply to: Edumakated

It isn't the procession causing the accidents. It is the other drivers being distracted.

Stay alert and be respectful.

Processions cannot blow red lights. The hearse has to follow all rules of the road. All drivers should have ample time to react to that.

I HATE when people interrupt processions.

originally posted by: headorheart
a reply to: Edumakated

It isn't the procession causing the accidents. It is the other drivers being distracted.

Stay alert and be respectful.

Processions cannot blow red lights. The hearse has to follow all rules of the road. All drivers should have ample time to react to that.

I HATE when people interrupt processions.

It is far easier to just not have funeral processions than to expect every idiot driver talking on their phones or playing with the iPad dashboard is going to be more alert to what is going on around them.

The processions are a completely unnecessary risk and distraction in traffic imho.

Like I said, I have seen multiple accidents as a result of them. All respect to the dead, but they simply aren't safe in a big city. Maybe people can get away with them in small towns, but here in Chicago, they are an accident waiting to happen.

a reply to: Edumakated

It's a solemn act and a tradition. I've never seen a funeral procession cause a traffic collision. That is simply one of the responsibilities of being a driver on the road. They are not hard to spot. Put down your cellphone and pay attention.

Dude listen,

I will gladly drive the snowplow lead vehicle to clear a path through the self-centered, distracted drivers.


Jesus, you have some crazy ambitions and I totally respect that.







Added..guess I never thought about busy cities. That might get a little crazy.

Several states grant processions the right of way without regard to traffic signals or allow for the procession to remain intact through intersections.

I've never seen a procession that was not escorted.
Maybe it's a Texas thing.

In Tennessee people along the side of the road will remove their hats and place their hand over their hearts in silent tribute. Some traditions are worth keeping.

a reply to: Edumakated

I respect your opinion, but whole heartedly disagree.

Why get rid of something respectful to cater to a bunch of idiots that can't focus while driving?

I am from Chicago and have participated in many successful processions. I could not care less if I impeded a hurried or distracted driver's day by trying pay respect to my passed love one.

dbl

originally posted by: skunkape23
I've never seen a procession that was not escorted.
Maybe it's a Texas thing.

Most that I've seen have been escorted, but not all. I've never seen a procession stop for a red light though, only trains.

In the South certain rules of respect are used. On-coming towards the Funeral Procession, everyone stops in their car and removes their hats. Courtesy would dictate grace and respect.

originally posted by: Edumakated

originally posted by: headorheart
a reply to: Edumakated

It isn't the procession causing the accidents. It is the other drivers being distracted.

Stay alert and be respectful.

Processions cannot blow red lights. The hearse has to follow all rules of the road. All drivers should have ample time to react to that.

I HATE when people interrupt processions.

It is far easier to just not have funeral processions than to expect every idiot driver talking on their phones or playing with the iPad dashboard is going to be more alert to what is going on around them.

The processions are a completely unnecessary risk and distraction in traffic imho.

Just It's not really your call. How about stay out of other people's business? Just another do-gooder who has decided other people must conform to his wishes because he's decided he doesn't like something. Good Lord. It never ends.

a reply to: Plotus

Not just in the south.
Here in MI, most people, over the age of 40, pull over for oncoming funeral processions. We are in a small town, where the police will park their car at the intersection still to direct the procession through.
It's funny/sad, when a young person gets caught in the middle of people stopping for oncoming, as I had a young girl start yelling, " why are you all stopping? It's going the other way!"
One older guy got out to try to explain it to her, but she wasn't very happy. Nobody moved for her though.

originally posted by: Edumakated

originally posted by: headorheart
a reply to: Edumakated

It isn't the procession causing the accidents. It is the other drivers being distracted.

Stay alert and be respectful.

Processions cannot blow red lights. The hearse has to follow all rules of the road. All drivers should have ample time to react to that.

I HATE when people interrupt processions.

It is far easier to just not have funeral processions than to expect every idiot driver talking on their phones or playing with the iPad dashboard is going to be more alert to what is going on around them.

The processions are a completely unnecessary risk and distraction in traffic imho.

Like I said, I have seen multiple accidents as a result of them. All respect to the dead, but they simply aren't safe in a big city. Maybe people can get away with them in small towns, but here in Chicago, they are an accident waiting to happen.

Chicago drivers may be unaware of traffic rules for funeral processions. The procession is treated as one long vehicle; when the hearse goes through an intersection, all that follow are part of the hearse.

a reply to: Edumakated

Is it possible what you are truly upset about is having to wait for them to go by? Not everyone deals well with things like courtesy shown to the mourners.

The cell phone and distracted driving crowd are already committing major traffic violations, since it's considered about the same as drunk driving in most states. Inattentive drivers are the real risk. Hopefully if they drive into cars in a funeral procession, they get a very nasty ticket and a big insurance bill to cool their jets. You have to be a real jerk to drive in traffic with your cell phone in use or playing with electronic gizmo's.

Seem to me like this is just being selfish and uncaring. The problem is not with the mourners, it's exactly the other way around.

2016 U.S. Cell Phone and Driving Statistics

Fatalities in distraction-affected crashes decreased from 3,526 in 2015 to 3,450 in 2016, or a decrease of 2.2 percent.
263 teens (age 15 to 19) were killed as a result of distracted driving in 2016.
10 percent of all teen motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2016 involved distracted driving.
The NHTSA estimates that every day 660,000 drivers use electronic devices while behind the wheel.

Source

It's always the fault of the distracted driver, not anyone else.

94 percent of drivers support a ban on texting while driving.
74 percent of drivers support a ban on hand-held cell phone use.

Distracted driving amounts to attempted murder to be honest. It kills more people than mass shootings. No text, phone call or fiddling with an electronic device is worth more than human life. What if the person in the casket in that funeral procession were killed by a distracted driver who could not be bothered to put their phone down or wait for a funeral procession out of common courtesy and respect for others lives.

a reply to: Edumakated

I am going to have to disagree with you completely. This is a tradition that I and most everybody takes very seriously. I actually get upset when someone just drives by one and doesn’t stop.
I believe that these accidents you speak of come from inpatient drivers who should not be allowed to drive. Driving a vehicle is just like handling a gun. If not even more dangerous. If you don’t know how to drive with zero distractions then don’t drive.
I have never been in an accident in my life. And I contribute that to my complete awareness of my surroundings. Phone is always on silent and face down and never in my pocket. Radio on low volume and that stupid touch screen GPS is never on. I hate that thing.

originally posted by: headorheart
a reply to: Edumakated

I respect your opinion, but whole heartedly disagree.

Why get rid of something respectful to cater to a bunch of idiots that can't focus while driving?

I am from Chicago and have participated in many successful processions. I could not care less if I impeded a hurried or distracted driver's day by trying pay respect to my passed love one.

Wow that's not self centered at all
Hypocrisy in your vocabulary

Where I come from we don't have them, roads are now for cars, cemeteries and churches are for paying respect for the dead
Maybe in less built up areas but not main thoroughfares